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'''World Head of Family Sokeship Council''' ('''WHFSC''') is a [[martial arts]] council of international [[grandmaster (martial arts)|grandmasters]] and masters. Founded in 1993, the group is the first American grandmasters council. WHFSC represents the various martial arts systems and disciplines worldwide. Its membership is by invitation only and consists largely of martial artists who are ranked 9th and 10th degree [[Wikipedia:Dan (rank)|Dan]], or equivalents.
==History==
Founded in 1993, the World Head of Family Sokeship Council is the first American [[grandmaster (martial arts)|grandmasters]] council.<ref name="Tullis2004-12-01"/> It was founded by Frank E. Sanchez of Guam and resident of Florida.<ref name="August 2003 10 Anniversary"/> The membership consists of exclusively those who are ranked 9th and 10th degree [[Dan (rank)|Dan]], or equivalent<ref name="2000-09-29"/> and is by invitation or sponsorship only.<ref name="Tullis2004-12-01"/> However, 8th degree Dan and author Tero Laaksonen of Finland was inducted in 2012.<ref name="Tero Laaksonen 8th Dan"/> The WHFSC is a non-political organization, it respects all martial artists regardless of style or discipline and does not confer or grant Grandmaster status.<ref name="WHFSC Compendium"/>
In 2000, the organization had 149 members,<ref name="Dyke2000-09-14"/> and as of February 2016, the membership stands at 293 internationally.<ref name="Frankly Speaking"/> WHFSC acceptance is based upon verifiable attributes, in 2013, only two of the four nominees passed the review process and were accepted into the Sokeship Council. The WHFSC has no membership fees.<ref name="2013 Convention"/> WHFSC accepts martial arts that are at least a decade old and practiced in no fewer than five states.<ref name="Bergquist1994-01-11"/>
Formally known as the American Martial Arts Association and the American Martial Arts Alliance, international interest caused Frank Sanchez to rename the organization to the World Head of Family Sokeship Council in 1992. Even though Guam is a U.S. territory, there was resistance to Sanchez heading a United States-based martial arts organization. Additionally, reservations from non-Japanese practitioners embracing the term "[[Wikipedia:Sōke|Sōke]]" took some time to overcome. In November 1996, Sanchez published an article in ''[[Wikipedia:Black Belt Magazine|Black Belt Magazine]]'', "What's Wrong With a Martial Artist Creating His Own System?"<ref name="What's wrong with"/> In it he reasoned, that the current traditional systems were at one time considered eclectic and the teachings of WHFSC members like [[Wikipedia:Wally Jay|Wally Jay]], [[Wikipedia:Remy Presas|Remy Presas]] and [[Wikipedia:Bill Wallace (martial artist)|Bill Wallace]], "...are the traditional systems of tomorrow."<ref name="Frankly Speaking"/>
{{Quote|text=There are only two ways for authentic recognition as a grandmaster. One is to be designated as the legal and official successor to a martial arts system upon the death or retirement of the present grandmaster, and the other is to actually develop a new and different martial arts training style. The Council does not promote or issue rank in the martial arts. Its purpose is only to recognize those who are legitimate grandmasters.
== Additional notes ==
* The WHFSC's leadership has included [[Wikipedia:Jackie Chan|Jackie Chan]], [[Wikipedia:Royce Gracie|Royce Gracie]], [[Wikipedia:Jeff Speakman | Jeff Speakman]], [[Wikipedia:Masaaki Hatsumi|Masaaki Hatsumi]], and [[Wikipedia:Don Wilson (kickboxer)|Don Wilson]] since 1997.<ref name="Carroll1997-10-05"/>* Founder Frank E. Sanchez was honored by Jacksonville, Florida Mayor, [[Wikipedia:John Peyton (U.S. politician)|John Peyton]] in 2004, for the creation of his San-jitsu style, the formation of the WHFSC and his dedication to training for military and law enforcement.<ref name="Sanchez Honored"/>* In recent popular culture, honorary WHFSC member, Don "The Dragon" Wilson headlines in the film, ''[[Wikipedia:The Martial Arts Kid|The Martial Arts Kid]]'' (2015). Of the seven additional martial artists hired to ensure authenticity, [[Wikipedia:Bill "Superfoot" Wallace|Bill "Superfoot" Wallace]] and Jeff Wilson (a personal protection specialist for celebrities) are also honorary WHFSC members.<ref name="The Martial Arts Kid"/><ref name=Ambassadors/>* In 2015, [[Sigorney Wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] accepted Honorary Membership into the WHFSC as a red belt, studying under Brian Kula Fung.<ref name="Weaver Acceptance Doc"/><ref name="Weaver Acceptance"/>
== Further reading ==
*''The world's martial arts elite : a book of authorized biographies'', by Frank E. Sanchez, World Head of Family Sokeship Council (1999) {{OCLC|45610418}}
*''World Head of Family Sokeship Council'', by Don Warrener, Rising Sun Productions (2008) ISBN 1897307608
*''The Martial Directory North American Martial Arts Instructors Guide 2012: Full Color'', by Allen Woodman, [[Wikipedia:CreateSpace|CreateSpace]] (2014), ISBN 978-1479200627<ref name="Allen Woodman"/>*''WHFSC Grandmaster's Council: a compendium of the world's leading Grandmasters'', by Bram Frank, [[Wikipedia:Lulu (company)|Lulu]] (2013), ISBN 9781300575672* ''WHFSC GM book vol #2'', by Bram Frank, [[Wikipedia:Lulu (company)|Lulu]] (2015) ISBN 9781312270756
==References ==
<ref name=Ambassadors>{{cite web|title=Ambassadors:|url=http://www.whfsc.com/roster.html|publisher=World Head of Family Sokeship Council|accessdate=16 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116073026/http://www.whfsc.com/roster.html|archivedate=16 November 2015}}</ref>
<ref name="The Martial Arts Kid">{{cite news|author1=Jerome Maida|title=Glenn Wilson Among 8 Real-Life Champions And Masters Added to "The Martial Arts Kid" Cast|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/1274096|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=''[[Moviepilot]]''|date=12 March 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116093839/http://moviepilot.com/posts/1274096|archivedate=16 November 2015|quote=....During his [Glenn Wilsion] successful career he has been inducted into six Martial Arts Halls of Fame, including “Inside Kung Fu Magazine” and the “World Head of Family Sokeship Council}}</ref>
<ref name="Tero Laaksonen 8th Dan">{{cite news|title=Deodorantti siivitti Tero Laaksosen kamppailulajien huippujärjestöön|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/deodorantti_siivitti_tero_laaksosen_kamppailulajien_huippujarjestoon/6098795|accessdate=18 November 2015|publisher=''[[Yle]]'' |date=21 May 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118142334/http://yle.fi/uutiset/deodorantti_siivitti_tero_laaksosen_kamppailulajien_huippujarjestoon/6098795|archivedate=18 November 2015|language= Finnish |location= Finland|quote=The Turku-based martial arts virtuoso Tero Laaksonen has been invited to join the World Head of Family Sokeship organization. WHSFC is the world's leading martial arts or styles of the founders of the organization. Developed by Tero Laaksonen species is the European Kyusho Jitsu Tuite. He has also written non-fiction books in the field. - A little amazed because the other members have uniformly 9th or 10th dan black belt holders, I'm 8th dan level. Apparently, the creation of its own motion a series of holistic work is paying attention, Laaksonen says.}}</ref>
<ref name="Sanchez Honored">{{cite news|title=Founder of Sokeship Council Honored By Mayor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=htsDAAAAMBAJ|accessdate=18 November 2015|publisher=''[[Black Belt (magazine)]]''|date=March 2004|page=112}}</ref>
<ref name="2013 Convention">{{cite web|author1=Sensei Ken|title=World Head of Family Sokeship Council Event|url=http://kearnymartialarts.com/2013/06/10/world-head-of-family-sokeship-council-event/|publisher=Kearny Martial Arts|accessdate=19 November 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119194341/http://kearnymartialarts.com/2013/06/10/world-head-of-family-sokeship-council-event/|archivedate=19 November 2015|date=10 June 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="Combat magazine 2011">{{cite news|title=THE GATHERING OF EAGLES The World Head of Family Sokeship Council|url=http://issuu.com/ma_publications_ltd/docs/combat1111digitaled|accessdate=9 February 2016|issue=November 2011|publisher=''Combat Magazine''|date=31 October 2011|pages=20–21}}</ref>
<ref name="What's wrong with">{{cite journal|editor1-link=Frank E. Sanchez|title=What's Wrong With a Martial Artist Creating His Own System?|publisher=''[[Black Belt Magazine]]''|date=November 1996|volume=34|issue=11|pages=69–72|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNkDAAAAMBAJ"|accessdate=14 February 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="Frankly Speaking">{{cite journal|author1=Floyd Burk|title=Frankly Speaking|publisher=''[[Black Belt Magazine]]''|date=February 2016|volume=54|issue=2|pages=66–69|accessdate=14 February 2016|quote=San-Jitsu founder Frank Sanchez has fought the establishment to spread Guam's self-defense system and promote martial arts brotherhood. }}</ref>
<ref name="Weaver Acceptance">{{cite web|title=The World Head of Family Sokeship Council Photo Album|url=http://www.whfsc.com/gallery.html|publisher=WHFSC|accessdate=14 February 2016|quote=Award winning actress Sigourney Weaver receiving 2015 award and Honorary Membership in WHFSC}}</ref>